Down indicator



y 1940. G. H. ROSENBOOM ET AL 2,203,009

DOWN INDICATOR EN PU E SENBOOM H RO V. E. SI MPIONS Filed July 24, 1939Patented July 16, 1940 UiTE ATE? FlCE DOWN INDICATOR Application July24, 1939, Serial No. 286,062

4 Claims.

I This invention relates generally to sporting goods, and particularlyto down indicators for use in connection with football games.

The main object of this invention is to provide a visible indicator bymeans of which the linesman may acquaint the spectators with the numberof downs.

A The second object is to construct an indicator by means of which thelinesman can easily indi cate the down by means of unusually largenumerals ranging from 1 to 4, the various numerals having distinctlydifferent backgrounds, reference being made especially to the colorsthereof.

The third object is to so construct the operating mechanism that asingle movement by the operator will cause the previous down" number tobe cancelled and the new down number to be exposed.

The fourth object is to so construct the device that it will be easy tohandle and transport and will not easily be rendered inoperative byrough usage.

These and other objects are accomplished in the manner set forth in thefollowing specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device showing the rod portionshortened.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the indicator units.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 in Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the keyboard.

Fig, 6 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 6-45 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section of the device showing all of theindicators cancelled.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

Similar numerals refer throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a linesmans rod lnear the upper end of which is formed a base ll upon which is mounted anopaque casing l2. Within the casing I2 are disposed the concentriccylinders [53, i4, I and I6, all of which are slidable along the axis ofthe rod ID. The cylinders E3 to 16 have indicated thereon the numeralsI! which range from 1 to 4 respectively, the numeral 4 being on thecylinder it.

Each of the cylinders l3 to Hi has depending therefrom an operating barl8. To the bars 8 to similar parts are attached the keys is, 20, 2| and22 which are adapted to slide in the slots 23 in the keyboard 24 whichis mounted on the bracket 25, which in turn is secured to the rod it).Each of the keys I9, 20, 2! and 22 is fastened to a slide 26 whichoperates within its respective slot 23, the flattened end 21 of the barl8 forming the front bearing surface and the angle member 28 forming therear bearing surface.

The upper end 29 of the member 26 is bifurcated as shown in Fig. 8 toreceive the spring urged finger 30 which normally rests upon the anglemember 28.

Behind the keyboard 24 is mounted an elongated pawl which is pivotal onthe shaft 32. The pawl Si is urged toward the angle 28 by means of thespring 33. The pawl 3i is keyed to the shaft 32 as is the lever 36 whichis connected by means of a rod 35 to a bell crank key release lever 36,

Within the casing I2 is disposed a battery 3i whose leads 38 and 39 areconnected to the springs 40 whose upper ends are attached to theU-shaped member ll on which are mounted the lamps 42 which are energizedby the battery 31 under the control of the switch 43.

On the member 4| is mounted the cap 44 which is urged downwardly againstany or all of the members l3 to Hi by means of the springs 39 and 40, Aguide rod 15 is slidably mounted in the upper end of the rod I0 and issecured by means of the screw 46 to the cap 44.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The device is normally in the position shown in Fig. 7 in which no downindicating numerals are visible. However, if the linesman wishes toindicate that there is a first down, he merely moves the key !9 to itsuppermost position which movement causes the pawl 3| to move out of theway and again return to its position of rest on the underside of theangle member 28, as shown in Fig. 6, holding the key IS in an uppermostposition. Since the key I9 is attached by means of the bar [8 to thecylinder l3 which carries the numeral l preferably on four sides, it canbe seen that this numeral will now be visible. In travelling upwards thecylinder l3 carries with it the cap 44. If the game is played at nightand illumination is desirable, this is obtained by the use of the switch43 which permits the battery 31 to energize the lamps 42.

Now if the operator wishes to indicate the second down, he merely raisesthe key 20. As it travels upward, the finger 30 contacts the pawl 3|causing it to move farther than it would be moved by the mere passing ofthe member 28 and thereby releasing the key 19 and permitting it withits cylinder l3 to return to a lowermost position.

It is desirable to provide a resilient cushion 4! at the bottom of thecasing I2 to absorb the shock of the falling cylinder.

If it is desired to clear the keyboard, for example after a touchdown ismade, the linesman needs merely to operate the lever 36 in a manner tocause the pawl 3] to release whichever key l9 to 22 is elevated,restoring the device to the position shown in Fig. '7.

While the release key 36 is shown lower than the other keys and operatedin a difierent' manner, it is clear that any convenient form of releasemechanism could be used without departing from the spirit of thisinvention.

We are, of course, aware that various forms of indicating devices havebeen constructed in the past, and it is therefore not our desire tocover such devices broadly, but we do intend to cover all such forms andmodifications thereof as fall fairly within the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of alinesmans rod having a cylindrical casing disposed near the upper endthereof, a plurality of colored transparent cylinders 2. A device of theclass described consisting of an upright linesmans rod, a cylindricalcasing mounted near the upper end of said rod, a plurality of concentriccolored transparencies mounted in said casing and vertically slidablewith relation thereto, a cap adapted to form a yieldable cover for saidcasing or for any of said transparencies when in an elevated position,means of selectively elevating said transparencies and means forreleasing said raised transparencies and returning same to a concealedposition within the casing.

3. The apparatus described in claim 2, together with means forilluminating the interior of said transparencies.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of an uprightlinesmans rod, a cylindrical casing encircling said rod near the upperend thereof and coaxial therewith, a cap for said casing having a guiderod thereon adapted to slide within said linesmans rod, a spring forurging said cap in a closing direction, a plurality of coloredtransparencies telescopically disposed around the axis of said linesmansrod, each of said members having the number of a down indicated thereon,a keyboard associated with said linesmans rod having slidable keymembers mounted therein, each of said keys being connected to itsrespective numbered cylinder whereby said cylinders may be selectivelyraised, a

latch for holding the various cylinders in a supported position and aseparate release mechanism provided with an excess movement whereby anyraised cylinder may be lowered before a subsequent cylinder is raised.

GUSTAF H. ROSENBOOM. VTRGIL E. SIMMONS.

